Otitis externa infection in Jordan. Clinical and microbiological features

Saudi Med J. 2004 Sep;25(9):1199-203.

Abstract

Objective: Aims of this study were to investigate the clinical findings and to identify causative microorganisms and their susceptibility to antibiotics in otitis externa infection.

Methods: The symptoms and signs, as well as the bacterial and fungal flora from the auditory canal of one hundred and eighty patients (100 males and 80 females), age range from 6 month to 19-years old suffering from acute otitis externa were studied from January 2001 to December 2002. One way ANOVA and Least Significant Difference (LSD) were carried out for statistical analysis.

Results: Pain was the most common symptom (97.2%) while, itching and difficulty in hearing were the least common (11.7 %). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) was isolated from (41.7%) which showed the best susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (93.4%), aspergillus species from (19.4%), candida albicans from (10.6%), staphylococcus aureus from (16.1%) which showed the best susceptibility to amikacin and ciprofloxacin (96.5%), proteus mirabilis from (2.8%) which showed the best susceptibility (100%) to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and ofloxacin, anaerobic bacteria from (2.2%); and no bacteria growth was observed in (7.2%). There was a significant variation relating signs, symptoms and sex in favor of males (P=0.03). Significant seasonal variation in otitis externa infection was observed (P <0.05).

Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogenic microorganism, which showed the best susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Pain was the most common symptom.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Jordan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Otitis Externa / drug therapy
  • Otitis Externa / epidemiology*
  • Otitis Externa / microbiology*
  • Probability
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents